10 OF THE GREATEST
We review some of the most memorable moments of Geelong’s 2018-19 racing season.
1. RUNAWAY WINS GEELONG CUP
THE locals get the job done in the 2018 Geelong Cup, with Rosemont Stud-owned Runaway doing just that in the Group 3 feature race.
Trained by legend Gai Waterhouse, the famous red and white silks of Rosemont Stud stormed past a hot field of international raiders to claim the race.
“It’s as big as I’ve ever had,” stud principal Anthony Mithen said.
“I’ve won Group 1 races but to win your hometown cup with a horse you bred, that’s pretty cool. “It’s a big occasion, that’s for sure.” Connections — including Cotton On founder Nigel Austin — partied long into the night celebrating the win.
Runaway would then progress to the Melbourne Cup where he finished down the track.
2. HEATH CONNERS GETS WINNING SEND OFF
GEELONG trainer Heath Conners shocked the racing community earlier this year when he announced he would retire from training.
The third-generation trainer ended his career on a high note, though, with talented mare Neurotic winning at Bendigo. It was Conners’s final runner.
The previous Saturday he bowed out of V1 - GATE01Z01MA city racing a winner, too, with Villa Sarchi getting the job done at Flemington.
Conners has left a big hole in the local training ranks, but said he had become disenchanted with racing, which had led to his decision to step away.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better day and a better way to end (in town),” he said of Villa Sarchi’s win.
“The owners, the horse, everything about the day was sensational. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
3. JAMIE EDWARDS’ MAMMOTH YEAR
THERE is no doubting Freshwater Creek trainer Jamie Edwards has ridden a tidal wave of form this season.
Geelong’s premier trainer last season, Edwards finished with 16 country winners from 228 starters and one metro winner from 22 starters.
This season he has picked up 35 country winners from 231 starters and eight winners from 39 metro starters between Victoria and South Australia.
Highlights include Fill The Flute dominating in South Australia, and progressive stayer Prince Ziggy claiming two city wins and three city placings. He enjoyed six wins in total in 2018-19.
Aluf also was a consistent galloper, claiming four wins for the season with a further six places.
4. LINDSAY PARK’S BIG DAY AT THE TRACK
LINDSAY Park — or Team Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig — started the season with a bang at Geelong in August last year, training five winners on the card.
Amazingly, only two of the five were favourites, with Absaroka saluting at $12.40 and Gaelic Dream at $2.50. Other winners were Devine Slickness, A Fighting Fury and Tycoon Dancer.
The total winning margin for the five horses was 17.5 lengths. Talk about a pretty good day out!
5. HOUTZEN FLIES THE FLAG AT ROYAL ASCOT
SPEEDY mare Houtzen has given Geelong’s Peter Mullen the ride of a lifetime. But despite all her big wins, one of the greatest thrills was the horse’s recent trip to the UK.
The Magic Millions two-yearold winner finished eighth in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the chance to race in front of the Queen was a once-in-a-lifetime event for Mullen.
A slip at the start ended Houtzen’s chances, but she was still tough at the end.
“It was a pity she nearly fell the start but I’m proud of her to get us on the world stage,” Mullen said at the time.
“Ascot was more than we expected, the crowd was enormous and the facilities are unbelievable, only spoiled by a very wet day. All-in-all, this was a dream of mine to have a runner at Ascot, although we didn’t get a result but as they say that’s racing.”
6. MR QUICKIE WINS THE QUEENSLAND DERBY
THE story behind Mr Quickie is a superb one.
And it was capped with his win in the Group 1 Queensland Derby.The story goes that Rosemont Stud retained a share in the horse — who was bought for Wylie Dalziel Racing by Peter Moody.
Later Cotton On founder Nigel Austin dreamt Mr Quickie won the Cox Plate, so quickly he got in touch with Rosemont Stud principal Anthony Mithen to buy up whatever was left in the horse.
Fast forward to June and the horse became a Group 1 winner, with all of the big spring races now on the agenda for the son of Shamus Award.
7. ELITE DRAKE RELISHES THE WET
LARA trainer Alisa Hinch is starting to make waves in the local training ranks with stable star Elite Drake.
The four-year-old has always shown talent, but he has really put it together in 2019 with his best win coming in the slop at Caulfield in June.
Elite Drake has finished outside the money only once in 2019, winning two races in a row as well as finishing second twice and third twice.
Could an All-Star Mile campaign be on the cards in 2020?
8. CHAMPION WELLS EMBARKS ON FINAL CAMPAIGN
TURNING 12 tomorrow, it is going to be sad to see this champion of the jumps retire.
In his final campaign he will chase a record fourth Grand National Steeplechase. His last win in the race came in 2017 after he fell in the 2018 edition.
Wells recently claimed his third Mosstrooper and has also won the Crisp Steeplechase in 2017, making him one of the most decorated jumpers of all time.
9. CRAFTY CRUISER CRACKS THE $1M MARK
IT might be the most celebrated sixth of Bryce Stanaway’s career. A down-the-track finish for 11-year-old Crafty Cruiser saw the iron horse pocket $600, taking his career earning over the $1 million mark. Not a bad return on a $10,000 investment.
“You’d have to be proud, the horse cost $10,000, I half bought him by accident on the Gold Coast when I went up there to buy three jumpers,” Stanaway said at the time.
“The best thing that ever happened was that the three jumpers were withdrawn and then he popped his head around the corner.
“He’s probably been the best mate I’ve had for the last eight years.
“I get up every morning and he’s pushing on his gate to come into work.
“He’ll tell me when he wants to retire, I’m not going to tell him.”
10. STEPHANIE THORNTON’S STAR CONTINUES TO RISE
THORNTON continues to make great leaps with her career.
She has netted 34 winners from 366 starts in Victoria this season, netting $1.34 million in prizemoney. Her seven city winners were also a highlight.
She also struck up a good partnership with Kevin Corstens this season, riding five winners from 14 starters at a 35 per cent winning strike rate.